Wednesday, March 16, 2011

FAN CONVENTION with Brenda Novak

by Jo RobertsonPlease help me welcome NY Times Best-selling Author Brenda Novak back to the Lair. Not only is Brenda a prolific writer and mother of five, but she runs her annual Diabetes Research Auction every May. Check out her website and the current auction information at www.brendanovak.com.

Ms. Novak has been a favorite of mine for some time, but this has to be The Book for me out of all her work. It’s the one I will remember for many years to come. It’s the one that stands out not only because of the content, but the depth of the romance that is instant and intense. You aren’t going to want to miss this one! FIVE STARS

We Read RomanceToday Brenda is discussing her and Christine Feehan's FAN Conventions.

WHAT IS A FAN CONVENTION? by Brenda NovakWhen #1 New York Times Best-selling Author Christine Feehan came to me with the idea for FAN (Feehan And Novak Reader Appreciation Weekend) I was excited and definitely ready to jump in, but because I’d never been to such an event I had no idea what we should plan. That problem was quickly solved when we realized that our only goal was to make our event fun and exciting and a party our loyal readers would want to come back to again and again. We also wanted to make it intimate so that we’d be able to grow close as a group (and keep it manageable), so we capped it at 100.

Our first event last year was a smashing success. We had so many of our guests tell us they wanted to come back—and they did. We just held FAN 2011, of which 40% were returnees. We also had guests from as far away as London and Calgary join us.

So what do we do at FAN? All kinds of things! Our first two events were held aboard a 1920’s riverboat, The Delta King, in Old Sacramento, which means we had a fabulous setting to start things off. Friday we threw a 1920’s Speakeasy, complete with gangster and flapper costumes and cigarette girls (candy), and played poker for prizes. A large key in each gift basket enabled the winner to unlock the treasure chest of bigger prizes, so we had some very excited winners--but everyone got a gift. That’s part of the fun of FAN—the registration bag alone had 10 or more books in it and we gave presents away at almost every function.

Saturday, we had a delicious brunch and played FANGO (basically Bingo) for more prizes. Then we had a chat with the authors, a booksigning (with a palm reader doing free readings in the other room) and the most hilarious Murder Mystery Dinner I’ve ever been to. (My husband killed Christine right in front of her agent and editor. ) There, we gave away more gifts and repeated the tradition at the send-off brunch in the paddlewheel room the following morning. At FAN 2011, we even had a few surprise guests—New York Times Bestselling Authors Cherry Adair and C.L. Wilson!!

It was really fun to get to know the people who joined us. As with 2010, many claim they want to return, so I’m looking forward to seeing my new friends at the next FAN--only this time we’re changing up the party. We’re not sure of all the changes quite yet, but we’re going to do a Venetian Ball, complete with gowns and masks, in place of the Speakeasy. I’m already on the hunt for the most beautiful period costume ever.

If you’re interested in three days of rubbing elbows with fellow bibliophiles and enjoying one party after another, FAN 2012 is scheduled for March 2 – 4. Visit http://www.fanconvention.net/ for more details (and pictures of our past events).And if you think I’m going to sign off without telling you about my NEXT event for THIS year…you don’t know me very well. My seventh annual online auction for diabetes research opens May 1st at http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com. Go there now to register so that you’re included in all the updates because this is going to be an AMAZING year. Check out some of the items we have up for auction:

Lunches with Bestselling Authors Suzanne Brockmann, Karen Rose, Dianna Gabaldon, Barry Eisler, Steve Berry and more!A Selection of COACH Bags from Bestselling Author Anna DeStefanoExquisite artwork, quilts, paintings, and jewelry from dozens of donorsHundreds of autographed booksA Mexican Beach Getaway, A Week-Long Stay in Hawaii, Florida or Tennessee—even an African SafariA Personal Styling Session/Makeover with Bertrand PellegrinA haircut from celebrity hairstylish Alyn TopperAn tanzanite/diamond ring set in 18k white gold from Michael Greene & Co. (valued at $8500)A pave diamond heart necklace (valued at $3500)Electronics, including Nooks, Kindles and iPads!Agent for a Day With Jessica FaustA Day at Kensington BooksFor aspiring writers--Nearly 100 top agents and editors who are donating their time to evaluate your submissionTo top it all off, the person who places the highest number of bids, even if that person doesn't wind up winning a single auction item, will receive a fabulous prize package that includes a brand new laptop computer, an autographed advanced reading copy of my new book, INSIDE (due out June 28th), a FAN 2012 Convention Registration and a mystery box filled with goodies!See you at brendanovak.com!

A question for today's readers: Have you ever attended a reader appreciation weekend? Is this something you'd like to do in the future? Why or why not?

I've never attended any reader appreciation before. The economy is not my best friends now. But i would really like to do in future if i live nearby the location. meeting people who loves books will always fun !

FAN sounds like SO much fun. I wish I was closer so I could attend. I've been to two reader conventions. The Australian Romance Readers Convention in Melbourne in 09 and RomCon last year in Denver. Both were fabulous fun. There's something really buzzy in the air at a reader convention - perhaps just because everyone's there to have fun! I'm just getting read for ARRC 11 at Bondi Beach in a bit over a week. Can't wait!

I'm writing from Columbus, Ohio where I understand you'll be in October of this year (grin).

I've gone to Lori Foster & Dianne Castell's Reader Appreciation Day for something like the last eight years or so. It's been a blast. i even pitched my book to Cindy Hwang of Berkley there one year - she bought it a couple of months later. It's been a real delight to attend now as a published author. Fans are the best!

I went to The Australian Romance Readers Convention that was held in Melbourne in 2009 and had such a blast meeting authors and other romance readers it truly was an awesome weekend Sherrilyn Kenyon, Diana Love Susan Grant Liz Maverick were there and Australian authors Anna Campbell Stephanie Laurens Annie West just to name a few.I loved it so much that I joined ARRA and am now a committee member and have been really busy organizing the next convention that will be held this month at Bondi Beach here in Sydney our key note speakers this time are Cindy Gerard, Anna Campbell and Nalini Singh and Anne Gracie Annie West and so many Australian authors will be with us again.

I am really looking forward to all the fun again listening to authors speak and meeting everyone catching up with friends that I met at ARRC09.

We are having a silent auction to raise funds for the Queensland flood victims and the donations have been fantastic

I have never attended an event quite like that but I did get to have dinner with some of the Bandits and the GR, that was the thrill of my life. Worked for me, ever walk into a restaurant and have them ask if you are there with the "Golden Rooser"?

I forgot to say good morning to everyone! It's a drizzly, overcast day in northern California. I'm not planning on stepping outside at all! And I can stop praying for rain because we've had our share for the season.

Oh, Jo, love the idea of you coming to Australia. You must come and stay. We've got Anna Sugden coming to our conference this year to present a workshop. I can't wait to catch up with her and her delightful husband. Especially as I'll miss seeing everyone at RWA this year. Sigh. Sob. Sniffle.

Christine and I have done what we can to keep costs low. We definitely subsidize the event as much as possible simply because we know the economy's tough right now. Our visitors get their money back in gifts and books alone. LOL

Each year the Diabetes Research Auction gets better and better! Lots of lovely things to bid on. Last year I bid on and won a lovely brooch, circa 1920's, which would be perfect for the Speakeasy affair LOL.

Donnas--Have you registered for the auction? We're going to offer a huge prize package to the person who places the highest number of bids, even if that person doesn't end up winning any of the items. This year it's a laptop and some other goodies. The secret to that is to get in early when all the bids are at $2!

This year's launch party is going to be at La-Z-Boy, Jo, on June 28th, so mark your calendar. Anyone else who'd like to come (and lives close enough) is invited, too. We're going to have all kinds of raffle baskets and the first 100 people get a goody bag when they arrive. We're working out the exact time, but it should be around 6:00 p.m.

Oh wow how I would love to attend one....They look like so much fun...I just wish I won the Lotto already....LOLI always find something else more important to spend the money on. On day though...I have the change jar collecting money.... :0)

Speaking of local events, have you heard about my local tie-in event to the online fundraiser? I'm hosting THE PERFECT BRUNCH, and it's going to be so fun. I can't believe all the fabulous businesses and people who are coming together to make this happen. Check it out at brendanovak.com (there's a link right below my books on the front page).

I got to meet one of my fave romance writers -- Mary Balogh -- at National one year, and all I could do was stutter and stammer about how I adored her books. She's probably got a restraining order out on me now, or maybe she's used to it LOL.

I've been to only one day reader-writer event when RT was near where I live. I had the best time! I'd go again but RT is in LA this year, which is over 2600 miles.

I was planing on going to RWA last year for the whole week-end when it was in Tennessee (which I can drive to in 6 hours), but when it was changed to Disney in Florida after the floods it was just too far away (a 2-day drive). This year RWA is in NYC but that is just too expensive for me. :(

Forward Page

September Releases

Still Available

Headlines

Donna MacMeans, Trish Milburn, and Nancy Northcott will all be in Atlanta for the Moonlight and Magnolias conference in Decatur, Georgia September 30 through October 2nd. If you're in the area, stop by for the booksigning. We'd love to see you.

Redeeming the Rogue by Donna MacMeans received a 4.5 star TOP PICK! review from Romantic Times Magazine.

Living in Color by Trish Milburn is now available on Kindle, Smashwords and at barnesandnoble.com for the Nook.